21 Deforestation-Mid

Deforestation FOCUS Question What effect does deforestation have on Earth?

森林砍伐问题森林砍伐对地球有什么影响?

What Is Deforestation? Beth visited her grandparents last year. She liked hiking through a forest near their house. She saw lots of trees wild animals and flowering plants. When she went to visit her grandparents this year, much of the forest was gone. In its place was a huge resort with parking lots, cabins, and a large swimming pool. The new resort will be a great place for families to go on vacation. However, the resort took the place of many trees. When large areas of forest are destroyed we call it deforestation. Many people are concerned about deforestation for several reasons. Trees clean the air, and they are important to the water cycle. They help keep the right amounts of water vapor, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere.

什么是森林砍伐?贝丝去年拜访了她的祖父母。 她喜欢徒步穿越他们家附近的森林。 她看到了很多树、野生动物和开花植物。 当她今年去看望她的祖父母时，大部分森林都消失了。 取而代之的是一个巨大的度假村，有停车场、小木屋和一个大游泳池。 新度假村将是家庭度假的好地方。 然而，这个度假村取代了许多树木。 当大面积的森林被破坏时，我们称之为森林砍伐。 许多人关心森林砍伐有几个原因。 树木能净化空气，对水循环也很重要。 它们有助于保持地球大气中适量的水蒸气、氧气和二氧化碳。

Clearing a forest also wipes out a natural habitat. The animals that lived there must find a new place to live. Some animals find a new home, but others do not. They might get hit by cars or struggle to find food. They might be killed to protect people or pets. Entire plant and animal species can be threatened when too many trees are removed. Deforestation also causes soil erosion. Trees help to keep soil in place. Without trees, wind can blow the soil away. Then new plants cannot grow. Wowser! Earth's forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate. Since 1900, about 90 percent of West Africa's coastal rainforests have been destroyed.

砍伐森林也会破坏自然栖息地。 生活在那里的动物必须找到一个新的地方生活。 一些动物找到了新家，但另一些却没有。 他们可能会被车撞到或者很难找到食物。 它们可能会被杀死以保护人类或宠物。 当太多的树木被砍伐时，整个植物和动物物种都会受到威胁。 砍伐森林也会导致土壤侵蚀。 树木有助于保持土壤。 没有树，风会把土壤吹走。 那么新的植物就不能生长了。 老古板!地球上的森林正以惊人的速度遭到破坏。 自1900年以来，大约90%的西非沿海雨林被破坏。

Natural Causes There are many natural causes of deforestation. Forest fires are one common cause. If an area gets little or no rain for a long time, plants dry up and might die. If this dry area is hit by lightning, trees can catch on fire. Flames spread from tree to tree, burning down a lot of forest. Just like people, plants can get sick, too. Plant diseases can spread, causing many trees in an area to die. Other events, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, avalanches, and floods, can kill many trees all at once.

森林砍伐有许多自然原因。 森林火灾是一个常见的原因。 如果一个地区长时间少雨或不下雨，植物就会枯死。 如果这个干燥的地区被闪电击中，树木就会着火。 火焰从一棵树蔓延到另一棵树，烧毁了许多森林。 就像人一样，植物也会生病。 植物疾病可以传播，导致一个地区的许多树木死亡。 其他事件，如火山爆发、地震、雪崩和洪水，可以同时杀死许多树木。

During these natural events, not all of the plants and trees die. These areas can recover. The trees that live can help the forest grow again. Sometimes deforestation can be helpful. Weak trees and plants die, making room for new plants to grow. However, when people cause deforestation, most of the trees are removed or killed. The habitat is changed forever. Think About It Why might firefighters allow a forest fire to burn?

在这些自然事件中，并不是所有的植物和树木都会死亡。 这些区域可以恢复。活下来的树木可以帮助森林再次生长。 有时森林砍伐是有益的。 虚弱的树木和植物死亡，为新植物的生长腾出空间。 然而，当人们砍伐森林时，大部分树木都被移走或杀死了。 栖息地永远地改变了。 想想看为什么消防员会让森林大火继续燃烧?

Human Causes People sometimes cause deforestation on purpose. Forests provide many things that people need. Look around the room. Do you see things made from paper and wood? Trees in a forest were cut down to make these things. It would be very hard to go one day without using any products from a forest. Forests are also cut down or burned to clear land for growing crops. Farmers cut down forests to use the land for their animals. Careless people sometimes start large forest fires. It can be difficult and dangerous for firefighters to control the fire.

人们有时会故意砍伐森林。 森林提供人们需要的许多东西。 环视一下房间。你看到用纸和木头做的东西了吗? 森林里的树木被砍伐来制造这些东西。 有一天不使用任何来自森林的产品是非常困难的。 森林也被砍伐或烧毁，以腾出土地种植作物。 农民们砍伐森林，用土地饲养牲畜。 粗心的人有时会引起森林大火。 对消防员来说，控制火势既困难又危险。